China Transit Guide

Accommodation Registration in China for Foreigners: Hotels, Friends and Online Registration (2026)

Published 2026-10-06 · Updated 2026-10-06

Accommodation Registration in China for Foreigners

Every foreigner staying in China has their accommodation registered with the police. If you stay in hotels, the hotel does it and you'll barely notice. If you stay with friends, family or anywhere that isn't a hotel, you or your host must do it yourselves within 24 hours. Since 21 September 2026 that can be done online anywhere in China.

Checked on 6 October 2026 against NIA Announcement No. 7 of 2026. Confirm with the NIA hotline 12367 if your situation is unusual.

The rule

The rule comes from Article 39 of China's Exit and Entry Administration Law, as quoted in the NIA's announcement (NIA Announcement No. 7):

  • Hotels: the hotel registers foreign guests and sends the information to the local public security organ.
  • Anywhere else: the foreigner, or the person hosting them, must register with the local public security organ within 24 hours of arrival.

The Chinese consulate in Montreal confirms this applies to visitors on 240-hour visa-free transit too (consulate FAQ).

Online registration since 21 September 2026

After a pilot, the NIA rolled out online accommodation registration nationwide from 21 September 2026. Online registration has the same legal effect as registering in person, and the in-person channel at local police remains available (NIA Announcement No. 7).

Where to register online (NIA interpretation):

  • the NIA government service website
  • the "NIA 12367" app
  • the "NIA 12367" WeChat mini program
  • the Alipay mini program

How: register a user account and verify your identity, then go to Foreigner Service → Accommodation Registration and follow the prompts. Afterwards, Registration Record Inquiry shows your record (NIA interpretation). Screenshot it.

Who should do it

The NIA says either the foreigner or the host can register online. Because hosts usually know the address details better, the first registration should be done with the host's help (NIA interpretation).

You can register on your own when:

  • you've already registered through the NIA platform and need to register again at the same residence, or
  • you're staying at a residence you own (or your spouse owns) in China.

The host can be a Chinese citizen or a foreigner (NIA interpretation).

When you don't need to re-register

If you've already registered after arriving, the NIA says you don't need to re-register in these cases (NIA interpretation):

  • you live in your own residence in China and come back to it after travelling within or outside China
  • you hold a residence permit or permanent residence permit, live at your habitual residence, and come back to it after travelling during the validity of that permit

A habitual residence means where you live or plan to live long term, which the regulations define as more than 180 days (NIA interpretation). Short-term visitors staying with friends won't usually fit either case, so register each time you move to a new non-hotel address.

What happens if you don't

Under Article 76 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, a foreigner or host who fails to register as required gets a warning and may be fined (NIA interpretation).

What travellers say

On Xiaohongshu, the topic comes up mostly in comments. In one popular entry checklist for foreign visitors, the author mentions in the comments that they never did a community registration during their trip (全A少女瑞秋). That's one person's experience. It doesn't change the rule: if you stay somewhere other than a hotel, registration is required within 24 hours. Online registration means you can now do it from your phone instead of visiting a police station.

Under a two-week itinerary video, commenters claimed that many hotels in Xinjiang don't accept foreign guests (Ryan). We couldn't verify that. If you're travelling somewhere less visited, it's sensible to confirm with the hotel before booking that it can register foreign guests. Note also that Xinjiang isn't one of the 24 provinces in the 240-hour transit scheme.

Scenarios

Where you stay Who registers How
Hotel The hotel Automatic at check-in with your passport
Friend's or family's home You and your host (first time with the host's help) NIA 12367 app, WeChat or Alipay mini program, NIA website, or the local police
Moving to a second friend's home Register again at the new address Same channels
Your own flat in China You, independently Same channels; no re-registration after trips
Not sure if the place counts as a hotel Ask the host before you arrive If they don't register you, do it yourself

Checklist

  • Hotels: carry your passport to check-in; nothing else to do
  • Staying with friends: install the NIA 12367 app or open the mini program before you arrive
  • Register within 24 hours of arriving, with your host's help the first time
  • Screenshot your Registration Record Inquiry page
  • Register again each time you move to a new non-hotel address
  • Stuck? Call 12367 or visit the local exit-entry office or police station

For the rest of your arrival paperwork, see the entry checklist for first-time visitors. On a stopover, the 240-hour transit explainer covers the other rules, and our checker tests your itinerary.

Traveller reports we referenced

We read these Xiaohongshu posts and their comments and wrote our own summary. Nothing was translated or copied. The rules above come from the NIA.

Sources

Sources